Book Review: A Small Madness by Dianne Touchell

A Small Madness by Dianne Touchell

Pages: 231
Publish date: February 1st 2015
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781760110789
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Rose didn’t tell anyone about it. She wondered if it showed. She looked at herself in the mirror and turned this way and then that way. She stood as close to the mirror as she could, leaning over the bathroom basin, looking into her own eyes until they disappeared behind the fog of her breath. Looking for something. Some evidence that she was different now. Something had shifted inside her, a gear being ratcheted over a clunky cog, gaining torque, starting her up. But it didn’t show. How could all of these feelings not show? She was a woman now but it didn’t show and she couldn’t tell anyone.

A Small Madness:

I received A Small Madness by Dianne Touchell from Allen and Unwin in exchange for a review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

As soon as I saw A Small Madness, in the Allen and Unwin catalogue quite a couple of months ago, I knew I needed this book in my hands and boy I wasn’t disappointed.

The synopsis of A Small Madness doesn’t give too much away, but it gives the reader just enough so they are pulled right in.

I cannot explain how heartbreaking, enriching and beautiful this novel is. The way that A Small Madness is written is very unique. Rose the protagonist of A Small Madness is quite young, and you can hear it, in her voice. Normally I don’t like that in a young adult novel, but it just adds so much complexity and makes an impact like no other.

I try not to spoil books in my reviews, but with this book it’s really hard, I’m not spoiling the whole book so don’t get worried, I’m just giving away something to me, is common sense.

Rose didn’t immediately realise it but she was watching the calendar. She was watching the calendar the way you watch a spider in the corner of a room you can’t leave.

So Rose is going through a teenage pregnancy, but not in the archetypal way. Rose just doesn’t want to believe it, no matter, what and that is what makes the novel that much more emotional.

A Small Madness really captures the emotions of a pregnant teenager. It’s heartbreaking really. It really challenges the beliefs of the reader and how they perceive teenage pregnancy.

Michael, Roses boyfriend, friend, companion and father of her child, is very similar to Rose. They are both so ‘innocent’ and new to everything. But their love is simply beautiful and intimate. That even through hardship, they still love each other. It’s incredible because sometimes most adults can’t do that.

The title really does tell what is going on in Rose’s mind; a small madness. Rose just isn’t dealing with the pregnancy well, she is like a ticking time bomb. It’s eating her up and throughout the novel, we see her change and it’s heartbreaking. Her thoughts and feelings are turned and sometimes not for the better.

A Small Madness is very antagonizing. Let me tell you that right now. But it’s also a beautiful, powerful novel that challenges the reader, and it will bring you out of your comfort zone.

Somehow this small gesture had more significance than the usual body-slam hugging that had been their previous mid-hall greeting.

Furthermore, Touchell’s writing is incredible that just brings out all the emotions in the reader. But that is what makes the story that much more distressing and moving. Touchell also questions the reader. However, A Small Madness may be very confronting to some readers.

She asks the reader to be sympathetic to a dark deed and the flawed characters that committed it. She asks the readers to really question the idea that ‘being damaged is very, different to being evil’ – especially to be of that age.
A Small Madness is a beautiful, important novel that will challenge your beliefs and break your heart.